Transcript of "Paradigm shift press release"

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“Championing the Rights, Welfare and Development of Belizean Families and Children”
PRESS RELEASE
Clearly we need a Paradigm Shift…
On October 22, 2013,
Belize was one of the first countries to sign the UN conventions on the Rights of the Child
which is the most widely ratified convention in the world. This is testament to our country’s
recognition of the importance of caring for our children and nurturing them to be
responsible and productive citizens. This commitment obligated our Government to enact
laws and policies that create the enabling environment for children to flourish.
One of the obligations to our children is to protect them from all forms of sexual
exploitation and abuse and neglect. Currently the Government is seeking to amend the laws
to provide more robust protection for children and to close the gaps in the child protection
system that have allowed violence against children to go unpunished and to be widespread.
As a part of its mandate the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) is also
equally concerned with addressing the cultural beliefs and practices that enable the violations
of children to continue. This is of grave importance as children reside in families and
communities where these value systems govern the child’s life experiences. This is where a
paradigm shift has to occur and it has to be our collective understanding that any
abuse to any child (male or female) elicit a zero-tolerance response from the
guardians of our children and the national child protection system. Complimenting
the laws that are enacted the participation of the wider society will ensure that children truly
realize their protection rights.
For these reasons the recent commentary in the Amandala Newspaper of October 20th,
2013, written by Collin Hyde is extremely troubling to the NCFC. It is an example of the
challenges the social sector encounters when attempting to change attitudes that allow
children to remain vulnerable to violations of their person. We take notice of the article as
the comments perpetuate gender discriminations about the status of women and men (and
therefore girls and boys) in society and their accompanying value. These comments

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perpetuate stigma about rape and the trauma that it brings to its victims. These comments
remove the culpability from perpetrators and downplay the gravity of sexual violations
against children. Perhaps most disturbing is that the comments about “fair deterrent”
suggest that there is a perceived hierarchy that can be placed on the sanctity and innocence
of our children.
These comments contradict the very principle of human and children rights which calls for
non-discrimination and equity in the protection of the rights of children and establishes that
these rights are inalienable, indivisible and universal to all. Most importantly it undermines
the fight to end violence against children. If we are to live up to our commitments to
children the participation of communities and families is pivotal. We urge those who hold
positions and platforms that can be used to educate and inform to make a personal
commitment to being informed and using their influence in positive ways.
We urge the media to participate in the ongoing dialogue about protecting our children in a
more substantive manner by using the responsibility they have to share information, to
question and to investigate and to even constructively call to task the many players in the
child protection sector. Be a voice on behalf of children and help create awareness of the
issues that impact on our children’s lives.
The NCFC also takes this opportunity to appeal to families to support the amendments to
the Criminal Code and to commit to creating spaces where children can know they are
nurtured and protected. It’s our collective responsibility to make Belize worthy of its
children.
For any further information contact:
Luwani Cayetano
Executive Director
National Committee for Families and Children
62 Cleghorn Street
Belize City, Belize
Tel: 223.0059
ncfc@btl.net